Home – Home – Jornals – Chemistry for Sustainable Development 2016 number 4

The definition of the concept “ carbon black” in accordance with modern world ideas was given. The structure of carbon black, the morphology of its aggregates and elemental composition were described in detail. The place of carbon black among other black emissions in the atmosphere was characterized according to international standards; the fundamental differences between carbon black and soot were shown. The sources of carbon black emission into the atmosphere and soil were given. Industrial methods of carbon black production - thermal, furnace and channel - were reported. Basic diagrams of setups for the recovery of carbon black from aerosol streams in the production process providing a maximum possible efficiency of effluent gas and wastewater purification were described. Schemes and principles of operation of the main elements of carbon black recovery systems - cyclones and filters - were presented. The detrimental effects exerted by carbon black on the environment as a whole and on the human body in particular were demonstrated and the maximum permissible concentrations of carbon black were listed. The behaviour of carbon black in the atmosphere and oil contaminated soils was described. Methods of carbon black conversion in the atmosphere and schemes of its oxidation were outlined. A series of model experiments was performed to reveal the effect of carbon black on oil contaminated soils. The beneficial effect of carbon black on the removal of oil contaminants from soils was established. It was shown that carbon black is able to catalyze the destruction of various organic compounds, particularly oil hydrocarbons, thus improving soil fertility. Aerobic deterioration of carbon black in soils with time was discussed.